Book match cover



R we H m .A BM 1% O B July 3, 1956 Filed Feb. 2 1955 Wvms; H. WWW

IN V EN TOR.

BQOK MATCH COVER Thomas B. Weiss, Palo Alto, Calif. Application February2, 1%55, Serial No. 485,718 Claims. (Cl. 206-29) This invention relatesin general to new and useful improvements in match construction, andmore specifically to an improved cover for book type matches.

In the average match book, the cover thereof is folded so that it mustbe completely open to remove a match. Not only is this inconvenient, butalso, this exposes the match heads to the general area of the strikingpart of the cover so that when a match is struck without the cover beingfolded back into its match book closing position, there is a possibilityof igniting all of the match heads.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide animproved cover for match books, the cover being so constructed wherebythe upper ends thereof only are opened so that at all times a portion ofthe cover is disposed between the striking area of the cover and theheads of matches whereby accidental ignition of the match heads ispractically eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cover formatch books, the cover being so constructed whereby front and rearportions thereof are in offset relation and connected together at thebase of the matches disposed therein so that ends of the back and frontportions may be separated to facilitate the removal of a match, and atthe same time, substantially encase all of the matches.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved match padfor book type matches, the match pad including at least a pair of sheetswith each sheet having a base and match elements alternatingly strucktherefrom, the match elements being disposed in the general plane of thebase and the match elements of adjacent sheets being both staggered anddisposed in opposite directions whereby a minimum of space is requiredfor the match elements.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a preferred form of this invention andshows the general arrangement of a book match utilizing one of thecovers which is the subject of this invention, the general arrangementof ad space on the cover being clearly illustrated;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the match book of Figure l and showsthe arrangement of matches within the cover thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank from which the cover of the matchbook of Figure 1 is formed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure l and shows boththe general crosssection of the cover and the arrangement of matchestherein;

nite States Patent 0 ice Figure 5 is an elevational view of a modifiedform of cover;

Figure 6 is a plan view of still another modified form of cover, thecover being adapted to hold a maximum number of matches; and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 77 of Figure 6 and shows thearrangement of the various parts of the match book, including thefolding of the cover portions in order to resist the bending thereofwhen they are separated for the removal of a match.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 4, inclusive, it Will be seen thatthere is illustrated a preferred form of match book which is referred toin general by the reference numeral 10. The match book 10 includes acover, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12, anda match pad, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral14.

As is best illustrated in Figure 3, the cover 12 is formed from a blank16. The blank 16 includes a first portion 18 which is disposed inparallel, offset relation with a second portion 20. The portions 18 and20 form the front and rear portions 22 and 24, respectively, of thecover 12. Connecting the portions 18 and 20 of the blank 16 is anintermediate portion 26 which is dis posed at an angle to the portions20 and 18. The intermediate portion 26 is provided with a suitablecoating 28 to form a match striking surface. The intermediate portion 26is folded along an intermediate fold line 30 so as to form the cover 12.

The portion 18 remote from the portion 20 is provided with a first foldline 32 to permit an outward flaring of an upper part 34 of the frontcover portion. A second fold line 36 is provided so as to permit thefolding of an inturned flange 38. The portion Zll includes similar foldlines 4% and 42 to form an outwardly flared upper portion 44 and an endflange 46 of the rear cover portion 24 It is to be noted that the endflanges 38 and 46 are disposed in overlying relation and close the endof the cover 12.

The match pad 14 is secured in the cover 12 by a suitable fastener, suchas the staple 48. The match pad 14 and the cover 12 are folded along a.line 50 which extends longitudinally of the match book 10 through thestaple 4d. The fold line 50 is relatively short and is intended to bowonly the lower parts of the cover portions 22 and 24 so that when theupper parts thereof are spread apart, there will be a tendency for thecover portions 22 and 24 to resume their original positions.

Due to the offsetting of the side edges of the cover portions 22 and 24,it will be readily apparent that the cover 12 may be opened by a thumbor finger of ones hand. Also, the arrangement is such that it may beequally as well opened by left handed persons as right handed persons.

Referring now to Figure 5 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated a modified form of cover which is referred to in general bythe reference numeral 52. The cover 52 includes a front portion 54 and arear portion 56 which are disposed in offset relation. The front andrear portions 54 and 56 are formed from a single sheet of materialfolded along a fold line 58 which is disposed at a slight angle to theaxis of the material. Thus, the front and rear portions 54 and 56 aredisposed in upwardly diverging relation, as is best illustrated inFigure 5. The lower part of each of the front and rear portions 56 and54 is provided with a suitable covering 60 to form a match strikingarea.

The upper ends of the front and rear portions 54 and 56 are folded alonglines parallel to the fold line 58 to form end flanges 62 and 64,respectively. The end flanges 62 and 64 are disposed in overlappingrelation and form an end wall of the closure 52 so that matches disposedtherein may have their heads completely encased within the cover 52 withthe exception of the end matches. The cover 52 is provided with asuitable staple 66 for securing a match pad, such as the match pad 14,therein.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated a modified form of match book which includes a coverreferred to in general by the reference numeral 63. The cover 68 has afront portion 70 and a rear portion 72. Inasmuch as the front and rearportions 70 and 72 are identical with the exception that they arerotated 180 with respect to each other, only the front portion 70 willbe described in detail. The front portion 76 includes a first endportion 7 5 which is disposed in offset relation with respect to asecond end portion 76. The end portions 7 and '76 are connected togetherby an intermediate portion '78 which forms an extension of each of theportions 74 and 76. The intermediate portion 73 is provided with asuitable coating till to form a match striking surface.

The end portion 74 is provided with an inwardly directed end flange 82and the end portion 76 is provided With a similar end flange 84.

inasmuch as the front and rear portions 70 and 72 of the cover 68 arerotated with respect to each other, the end flanges 8?. and 84 of theportions 7t) and 72 are disposed in overlying relation with respect toeach other and close opposite ends of the cover 68.

The cover 68 is intended for use with a special pad of matches which isreferred to in general by the reference numeral 86 and is illustrated inFigure 7, which is secured in place by a suitable fastener, such as thestaple 83. The pad of matches d6 differs from the pad of matches 14 in amanner to be described in more detail hereinafter.

it is pointed out at this time that the front and rear portions of bothof the covers 52 and 68 are folded along lines similar to the fold line5b of the cover 12 in order that the front and rear portions thereof maybe retained in their normal positions and resist bending.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that the pad ofmatches 14 includes a pair of sheets 90 and 92. Each of the sheets 0 and92 includes a base 94 and a plurality of match elements 96 and )3 formedintegral with the base 94. The match elements 96 are disposed in thesame plane as the base 94, whereas the match elements 98 are offset fromthe plane of the base 94. The match elements 96 and 98 are alternatedand provided at their upper ends with suitable match heads 104i.

It is to be noted that the match elements 9% of the sheet 90 project tothe right whereas the match elements 96 of the sheet 92 project to theleft. By transversely staggering the match elements 96 and 98 of thesheets Eli and 92, the match elements 96 and 95.5 of the two sheets liein a common plane so that only a total of three thicknesses is requiredfor the total of four sets of match elements. In this manner, the matchbook 10 may be of a lesser thickness than the normal match book.

The match book 86 differs from the match book 14 only in that matchelements of the sheets thereof extend in opposite directions from acentrally located base. Thus, essentially, the match pad 86 is two matchpads in one.

Referring to Figure 1 once again, it will be apparent that inasmuch asthe portions 22 and 24 are offset an ad picture on the front portion 22may be extended to the rear portion 24 to give the ad the appearance ofdepth.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may d beresorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A match book comprising a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a base, match elements, and matchheads, said match heads being disposed remote from said base, fasteningmeans securing said cover to said base, said cover including front andback portions having continuous vertical side edges disposed in offsetrelation to facilitate access to said. match elements, said front andback portions having end flanges disposed in overlapping relation toclose an end of said cover at said match heads.

2. A match book comprising a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a base, match elements and matchheads, said match heads being disposed remote from said base, fasteningmeans securing said cover to said base, said cover including front andback portions disposed in offset relation to facilitate access to saidmatch elements, said front and back portions having end flanges disposedin overlapping relation to close an end of said cover at said matchheads, said front and back portions being outwardly flared adjacent saidend flanges to provide clearance for said match heads.

3. A match book comprising a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a base, match elements and matchheads, said match heads being disposed remote from said base, fasteningmeans securing said cover to said base, said cover including front andback portions disposed in offset relation to facilitate access to saidmatch elements, said front and back portions having end flanges disposedin overlapping relation to close an end of said cover at said matchheads, said base and said cover being longitudinally folded in thevicinity of said base to resist bending of said front and rear portionsand retain said end flanges in overlapping relation.

4. A match book comprising a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a base, match elements and matchheads, said match heads being disposed remote from said base, fasteningmeans securing said cover to said base, said cover including front andback portions disposed in offset relation to facilitate access to saidmatch elements, said front and back portions having end flanges disposedin overlapping relation to close an end of said cover at said matchheads, said base and said cover being longitudinally folded in thevicinity of said base to resist bending of said front and rear portionsand retain said end flanges in overlapping relation, said front and backportions being outwardly flared adjacent said end flanges to provideclearance for said match heads.

5. A match book comprising a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a base, match elements and matchheads, said match heads being disposed remote from said base, fasteningmeans securing said cover to said base, said cover including front andback portions having continuous vertical side edges disposed in offsetrelation to facilitate access to said match elements, said front andback portions having end flanges disposed in overlapping relation toclose an end of said cover at said match heads, said front and rearportions being disposed in parallel relation.

6. A match book comprising a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a base, match elements and matchheads, said match heads being disposed remote from said base, fasteningmeans securing said cover to said base, said cover including front andback portions disposed in olfset relation to facilitate access to saidmatch elements, said front and back portions having end flanges disposedin overlapping relation to close an end of said cover at said matchheads, said front and back portions being disposed in parallel relation,said front and rear portions being con nected by an intermediate strikerportion being disposed .5 in angular relationship with respect to saidfront and rear portions.

7. A match book comprisf 1g a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a base, match elements and matchheads, said match heads being disposed remote from said base, fasteningmeans securing said cover to said base, said cover including front andback portions disposed in offset relation to facilitate access to saidmatch elements, said front and back portions having end flanges disposedin overlapping relation to close an end of said cover at said matchheads, said front and rear portions being disposed in divergentrelation, said front and rear portions being connected by anintermediate striker portion normally disposed at a lower edge of saidmatch book, said intermediate portion being disposed in alignment withsaid end portions.

8. A match book comprising a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a base, match elements and matchheads, said match heads being disposed remote from said base, fasteningmeans securing said cover to said base, said cover including front andback portions disposed in offset relation to facilitate access to saidmatch elements, said front and back portions having end flanges disposedin overlapping relation to close an end of said cover at said matchheads, said front and rear portions being disposed in divergentrelation.

9. A match book comprising a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a central base, match elementsextending in opposite directions from said base, match heads on saidmatch elements remote from said base, said cover including separatefront and rear portions disposed in offset, criss-crossing relationshipand secured to said base, said front and rear portions having endflanges disposed in overlapping relation to close ends of said cover atsaid match heads.

10. A match book comprising a cover having a pad of matches mountedtherein, said pad of matches including a central base, match elementsextending in opposite directions from said base, match heads on saidmatch elements remote from said base, said cover including separatefront and rear portions disposed in offset, criss-crossing relationshipand secured to said base, said front and rear portions having endflanges disposed in overlapping relation to close ends of said cover atsaid match heads, said front and rear portions being identical androtated relative to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,907,313 Arana May 2, 1933 2,000,328 Harris May 7, 1935 2,006,678Kaeppler July 2, 1935 2,308,509 Hartman Jan. 19, 1943 2,372,167 AltamosMar. 27, 1945 2,375,647 Guyer May 8, 1945 2,470,523 Russo May 17, 19492,527,328 Polacsek Oct. 24, 1950 2,556,561 Sutton June 12, 1951

